Drug or Alcohol Addiction

Tel: 663676 for Alcoholics Anonymous – There are seven meetings a week around the island and each month there is an open meeting for anyone, including family and friends who may know someone with a problem with alcohol, to attend to find out more about the organisation.

Motiv8 (formerly the Isle of Man Alcohol Advisory Service) offers support for drug, alcohol and gambling addiction to the addict and their families. This charity can be contacted on Tel: 627656 or mobile: 426400, or view www.motiv8@iom.com

Visual Impairment

The Manx Blind Welfare Society looks after the interests of over 500 people with serious sight loss on the Island. A friendly team along with volunteers, provide a comprehensive range of services and support including social events. If you or someone you know is facing difficulties due to serious sight loss, then call tel: 674727. Also housed within their purpose built headquarters, Corrin Court, Heywood Avenue, Onchan, are the Royal National Institute for the Blind rehabilitation services and resource centre. Tel: 677626. Contact their Eye Care Liaison Officer for emotional support at the point of diagnosis, refer you to other services you may benefit from, provide practical information and advice, advise on your rights and any benefits you may be entitled to and recommend new products to help you to live independently. Tel: 650420

For children in full-time education with sight problems there is a Visual Impairment Support Service provided by the Department of Education and Children. Tel: 686895 for more information.

If you wish to know more about macular degeneration, check out the website for the local branch at www.macular.im

Acoustic Shooting, a sport suitable for the visually impaired, takes place on a regular basis. For more information tel:674727.

The children in school with visual impairments are supported by the Isle of Man Department of Education and Children’s Visual Impairment Support Service, staffed by teachers who also hold additional qualifications in teaching visually impaired students.

Hearing Impairment

The Manx Deaf Society looks after the interest of deaf people. Tel: 202875 or email Lucy Buxton, Communication and Support Manager at iomdeafsociety@gmail.com for more information.

Hearing aids can be available through the Audiology clinic after a hearing test that indicated that a hearing aid is needed. Tel: 650407 for general enquiries. This service is accessed through health professionals eg your GP or Hospital Consultant.

Private hearing aid provision:

Hidden Hearing, Onchan, tel: 617683

Island Hearing, Port Erin, tel: 830722

Specsavers (Hearing Centres), Douglas, tel: 689500

Mental health

For sufferers of depression, the Mental Health Service have a useful leaflet helping you to understand this condition. At the back is a list of other contact points such as the Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team tel: 642860, Samaritans, tel:663399, CALM, a helpline for young men who are depressed or suicidal tel: 0800 585858 (open daily 5pm-midnight), Service Users Network tel: 457756 and other useful contacts.

The Older Persons Mental Health Service provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support to clients with “functional” disorders such as depression and anxiety, schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, as well as mild cognitive impaiment and dementia. They have a multidisciplinary team who liaise with acute inpatient wards, nursing and residential homes and the elderly mentally infirm units on the Island. However, a major part of their role is to promote independence at home and a large part of their work is to offer comprehensive assessments for people with memory problems. If you would like a copy of your appointment sent to your carer (so you don’t forget it) you can request this when the nurse visits you.

Ballamona Association for Mental Health Tel: 675833

Service Users Network (SUN) Tel:616188 Provides a fortnightly social club for mental health service users and anyone with an interest in mental health, and access to support and advice. Tel:616188 or email: serviceusersnetwork@manx.net

Brahma Kumaris offer meditation and relaxation opportunities without charge at 20, Appledene Court, Woodlands View, IM2 2BU. See www.brahmakumaris.org/uk/whatson and put Isle of Man in the location choice to find the programme of courses.

Diabetes

Older Persons

AGE CONCERN ISLE OF MAN Tel:631740 19 Drinkwater Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1AT. They offer information and advice and hold computer lessons for those over 50 years at a selection of venues across the island. View www.ageconcern.im

IOM Live at Home Schemes Laxey and Lonan Tel: 625157, North Douglas Tel: 627778, Northern Tel: 307760 or Tel: 244256, Onchan Tel: 625157, South Douglas Tel: 625157, Western Tel: 843012. For the south, Southern Befrienders Limited ? provides a befriending service for lonely, elderly people in the southern communities. Tel:833025 email: southernbefrienders@manx.net

The Silver Line, helpline for older people offering friendship, advice and support Tel: 0800 3288 888

Mobility walking aids are available through the Physiotherapy Service.This service can be accessed via your GP, other health professionals or you can fill in a self-referral form. For general enquiries ring Tel: 642158.

The Independent Living Centre, Level 1, Community Health Centre, Ballakermeen Road, Douglas, IM1 4BR provides advice and suppliers details on aids and equipment from the NHS and private businesses. Open Wednesdays 10am-2.30pm. For appointments at other times tel: 642561.

The Continence Advisor advises on the most suitable approach to a continence issue. Supplies are delivered to the home. Tel: 693551 for more information.

Heart and Lungs

BreatheEasy, British Lung Foundation Support Group meet once a month. Manx contact is Viv Osland on Tel:855008

Praxis Care Group Tel: 619803 Supports those with a mental illness or learning disability by promoting their independence and encouraging their integration into the wider community. Tel: 619803 email: info.adminiom@praxiscare.org.uk

New for 2015, Riding for the Disabled are offering Manx Carriage Driving 4 Disabled. For more information or to book a drive, contact Janet Thommeny at 23 Berrywoods Avenue, Douglas, IM2 7DA, tel: 497833 or email: janetthommeny@manx.net

Facebook page – Riding for the Disabled Isle of Man

Skils – promotes independence and education for the learning disabled resident on the Isle of Man. They particularly are looking at individuals between the ages of 16-18.Tel:485999 email: skils@manx.netwww.skils.info

Special Olympics IOM – Provides Winter and Summer sport programmes for any disability.Tel:853850

The Childrens Centre – The Community Farm provides a nurturing and educational environment, helping people grow whilst reconnecting with the countryside. The Farm is open to the Islands community and offers an increasing range of services to meet the communities need. Currently, children from primary schools follow a programme that links to and enriches the curriculum and they learn how to grow their own produce. Young people from secondary schools work in small groups to improve social and communication skills whilst learning and developing new skills and knowledge.

Veterans Welfare Service deal with all Pensions relating to service in the Armed Forces and any welfare needs (Tel: 687047). The Veterans UK helpline number is tel:0808 1914218 and they have a selection of relevant leaflets. See www.veterans-uk.info

The Childrens Centre operates The Community Farm provides a nurturing and educational environment, helping people grow whilst reconnecting with the countryside. The Farm is open to the Islands community and offers an increasing range of services to meet the communities need. Currently, children from primary schools follow a programme that links to and enriches the curriculum and they learn how to grow their own produce. Young people from secondary schools work in small groups to improve social and communication skills whilst learning and developing new skills and knowledge.

Mobility walking aids are available through the Physiotherapy Service. This service can be accessed via your GP, other health professionals or you can fill in a self-referral form. For general enquiries ring Tel: 642158.

The Independent Living Centre, Level 1, Community Health Centre, Ballakermeen Road, Douglas, IM1 4BR provides advice and suppliers details on aids and equipment from the NHS and private businesses. Open Wednesdays 10am-2.30pm. For appointments at other times tel: 642561.

The Continence Advisor advises on the most suitable approach to a continence issue. Supplies are delivered to the home. Tel: 693551 for more information.

Stroke

For Brushstroke art sessions operated by the Manx Stroke Foundation contact tel: 616885. They also offer communication support socials for those with communication difficulties following stroke,and social get-togethers for for all stroke sufferers and their carers

Stroke UK (otherwise known as Stroke Association) have a contract to provide Stroke Recovery Service Coordinator cover until 2022 on the Isle of Man to ensure that all care needed is in place to make an optimum recovery from stroke.

The Independent Living Centre, Level 1, Community Health Centre, Ballakermeen Road, Douglas, IM1 4BR provides advice and suppliers details on aids and equipment from the NHS and private businesses. Open Wednesdays 10am-2.30pm. For appointments at other times tel: 642561.